adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There were alien marks of dusty feet on the scrupulously clean passage, and on the first step of the stairs a spot of blood.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
activitynounUS /ækˈtɪvəti/
any specific behavior
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
adventureverbUS /ædˈventʃər/
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
From this reading With a sudden genuine alarm that drove her previous adventure from her mind, she impatiently called her sister's name.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
alarmnounUS /əˈlɑːrm/
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading With a sudden genuine alarm that drove her previous adventure from her mind, she impatiently called her sister's name.
alienadjectiveUS /ˈeɪliən/
not contained in or deriving from the essential nature of something
From this reading There were alien marks of dusty feet on the scrupulously clean passage, and on the first step of the stairs a spot of blood.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
backadverbUS /bæk/
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
bloodnounUS /blʌd/
The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.
From this reading There were alien marks of dusty feet on the scrupulously clean passage, and on the first step of the stairs a spot of blood.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
calledverbUS /kɔːld/
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading With a sudden genuine alarm that drove her previous adventure from her mind, she impatiently called her sister's name.
cleanadjectiveUS /kliːn/
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading There were alien marks of dusty feet on the scrupulously clean passage, and on the first step of the stairs a spot of blood.
closedadjectiveUS /kloʊzd/
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
crumpledadjectiveUS /ˈkrʌmpəld/
of metal e.g.
From this reading She had a crumpled paper in her hand.
desertedadjectiveUS /dɪˈzɜːrtɪd/
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
doornounUS /dɔːr/
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
drovenounUS /droʊv/
a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together
From this reading With a sudden genuine alarm that drove her previous adventure from her mind, she impatiently called her sister's name.
dustyadjectiveUS /ˈdʌsti/
covered with a layer of dust
From this reading There were alien marks of dusty feet on the scrupulously clean passage, and on the first step of the stairs a spot of blood.
faintadjectiveUS /feɪnt/
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
feetnounUS /fiːt/
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading There were alien marks of dusty feet on the scrupulously clean passage, and on the first step of the stairs a spot of blood.
fingerverbUS /ˈfɪŋɡər/
feel or handle with the fingers
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading There were alien marks of dusty feet on the scrupulously clean passage, and on the first step of the stairs a spot of blood.
floornounUS /flɔːr/
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading With a sudden genuine alarm that drove her previous adventure from her mind, she impatiently called her sister's name.
genuineadjectiveUS /ˈdʒenjəwən/
not fake or counterfeit
From this reading With a sudden genuine alarm that drove her previous adventure from her mind, she impatiently called her sister's name.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had a crumpled paper in her hand.
HalenounUS /heɪl/
a soldier of the American Revolution who was hanged as a spy by the British; his last words were supposed to have been `I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country' (1755-1776)
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
handnounUS /hænd/
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading She had a crumpled paper in her hand.
hastyadjectiveUS /ˈheɪsti/
excessively quick
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
heavyadjectiveUS /ˈhevi/
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading With a sudden genuine alarm that drove her previous adventure from her mind, she impatiently called her sister's name.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
impatientlyadverbUS /ˌɪmˈpeɪʃəntli/
with impatience; in an impatient manner
From this reading With a sudden genuine alarm that drove her previous adventure from her mind, she impatiently called her sister's name.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She had a crumpled paper in her hand.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
Kate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
Kate's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
leanedverbUS /liːnd/
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
lipnounUS /lɪp/
either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
lowerverbUS /ˈloʊər/
move something or somebody to a lower position
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
marksnounUS /mɑːrks/
English businessman who created a retail chain (1888-1964)
From this reading There were alien marks of dusty feet on the scrupulously clean passage, and on the first step of the stairs a spot of blood.
mindnounUS /maɪnd/
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading With a sudden genuine alarm that drove her previous adventure from her mind, she impatiently called her sister's name.
MrsnounUS /ˈmɪsɪz/
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
nameverbUS /neɪm/
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading With a sudden genuine alarm that drove her previous adventure from her mind, she impatiently called her sister's name.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
papernounUS /ˈpeɪpər/
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading She had a crumpled paper in her hand.
partnounUS /pɑːrt/
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
passagenounUS /ˈpæsədʒ/
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading There were alien marks of dusty feet on the scrupulously clean passage, and on the first step of the stairs a spot of blood.
previousadjectiveUS /ˈpriːviəs/
just preceding something else in time or order
From this reading With a sudden genuine alarm that drove her previous adventure from her mind, she impatiently called her sister's name.
rustleverbUS /ˈrʌsəl/
make a dry crackling sound
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
scrupulouslyadverbUS /ˈskruːpjələsli/
with extreme conscientiousness
From this reading There were alien marks of dusty feet on the scrupulously clean passage, and on the first step of the stairs a spot of blood.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading With a sudden genuine alarm that drove her previous adventure from her mind, she impatiently called her sister's name.
sister'snounUS /ˈsɪstərz/
possessive form of “sister” — a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading With a sudden genuine alarm that drove her previous adventure from her mind, she impatiently called her sister's name.
sitting-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
skirtsnounUS /skɜːrts/
plural of “skirt” — cloth covering that forms the part of a garment below the waist
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
smileverbUS /smaɪl/
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
soundnounUS /saʊnd/
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
spotnounUS /spɑːt/
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading There were alien marks of dusty feet on the scrupulously clean passage, and on the first step of the stairs a spot of blood.
staircasenounUS /ˈsterkeɪs/
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
stairsnounUS /sterz/
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading There were alien marks of dusty feet on the scrupulously clean passage, and on the first step of the stairs a spot of blood.
stepnounUS /step/
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading There were alien marks of dusty feet on the scrupulously clean passage, and on the first step of the stairs a spot of blood.
stepsnounUS /steps/
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
subduedadjectiveUS /səbˈduːd/
in a softened tone
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
suddenadjectiveUS /ˈsʌdən/
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading With a sudden genuine alarm that drove her previous adventure from her mind, she impatiently called her sister's name.
surprisenounUS /sərˈpraɪz/
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
sweptadjectiveUS /swept/
possessing sweep
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading With a sudden genuine alarm that drove her previous adventure from her mind, she impatiently called her sister's name.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
ToparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
unceremoniouslyadverbUS /ˌʌnserəˈmoʊniəsli/
in an unceremonious manner
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
unusualadjectiveUS /əˈnjuːʒuːəl/
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were alien marks of dusty feet on the scrupulously clean passage, and on the first step of the stairs a spot of blood.
WithprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading With a sudden genuine alarm that drove her previous adventure from her mind, she impatiently called her sister's name.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
